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Old Indian Legends by Zitkala-Ša

Angel De Cora (c. 1869-1919)
Binding Design, 1901
For Old Indian Legends by Zitkala-Ša (Boston: Ginn & Company, 1901)
Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives, Delaware Art Museum
Angel De Cora (c. 1869-1919)
Frontispiece, 1901
For Old Indian Legends by Zitkala-Ša (Boston: Ginn & Company, 1901)
Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives, Delaware Art Museum

Old Indian Legends is a collection of traditional Sioux stories retold by the Yankton Dakota writer Zitkala-Ša (1876-1938). Written at a time when federal assimilation policies threatened Native languages and cultural traditions, the book sought to preserve these stories for younger generations. The cover design and illustrations were created by De Cora, whose work brought visual expression to the narratives while drawing on Native design traditions.